Windscreen wiper device

ABSTRACT

A windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be place in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes opposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves space-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighboring ends of said longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating wiper arm, whrein said oscillating arm is pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near one end, a special feature of which is that the end of the oscillating wiper arm includes two at lest substantially cylindrical protrusions, which form bearing surfaces, at the location of the pivot axis, which protrusions extend in lateral direction with respect to the oscillating wiper arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to a windscreen wiper device comprising anelastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper bladeof a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with awindscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes opposing longitudinalgrooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apartlongitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, whereinneighbouring ends of said longitudinal strips are interconnected by arespective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises aconnecting device for an oscillating wiper arm, wherein said oscillatingarm is pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axisnear one end.

2. Related Art

Such a windscreen wiper device is generally known. The prior artwindscreen wiper device is in particular designed as a “yokeless” wiperdevice, wherein use is no longer made of several yokes pivotallyconnected to each other, but wherein the wiper blade is biassed by thecarrier element, as a result of which it exhibits a specific curvature.The oscillating arm of the prior art windscreen wiper device comprises aprojecting pin on one side thereof, which is inserted sideways into athrough hole of the connecting device.

One drawback of the prior art windscreen wiper device is the fact thatin practice the forces (torques) that are exerted on the connectionbetween the connecting device and the oscillating arm appear to berelatively high, as a result of which the reliability of said connectionappears to diminish with the passage of time. In addition, said forces(torques) will be extra high if (as is the case with the prior artwindscreen wiper device) the pin of the oscillating arm, which projectsin one direction, is inserted into the through hole of the connectingdevice at a high point relative to the wiper blade.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the priorart as indicated above, in particular to provide a windscreen wiperdevice wherein the oscillating wiper and the connecting device areinterconnected in a durable, solid manner.

In order to accomplish that objective, a windscreen wiper device of thekind referred to in the introduction is characterized in that the end ofthe oscillating wiper arm includes two at least substantiallycylindrical protrusions, which form bearing surfaces, at the location ofthe pivot axis, which protrusions extend in lateral direction withrespect to the oscillating wiper arm. As a result, the two protrusionsthat function as bearing surfaces are spaced far apart, so that theforces that are exerted on said bearing surfaces will be relatively low.In particular, the protrusions can be pivotally fitted incorrespondingly shaped recesses in the connecting device.

In one preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according tothe invention, the protrusions can be snapped into said recesses.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device accordingto the invention, the protrusions are dimensioned such that they can bepassed through insertion openings of the recesses from an at leastsubstantially perpendicular position of the oscillating arm with respectto the wiper blade, and be locked in position in said recesses from anat least substantially parallel position of the oscillating wiper armwith respect to the wiper blade. This makes it possible to move, inparticular pivot, the oscillating wiper arm from a mounting position(that is, a (vertical) position perpendicularly to the wiper blade orthe plane of a windscreen to be wiped) to an operative position (thatis, a (horizontal) position parallel to the wiper blade or the plane ofa windscreen to be wiped). In the mounting position, the protrusions canbe freely inserted into the insertion openings of the recesses andsubsequently be mounted in said recesses, whilst in the operativeposition the protrusions are locked in position in said recesses, sothat they cannot move out of said recesses via the insertion openings.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device accordingto the invention, the connecting device includes a guide groove for theoscillating wiper arm. Since the oscillating wiper arm is at leastpartially disposed in said guide groove in the aforesaid operativeposition, the oscillating wiper arm comprises additional capability ofwithstanding relatively high torques in that position.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device accordingto the invention, said connecting pieces are clamping members, whichform separate constructional elements. In particular, said connectingpieces are form-locked (“positive locking” or “having positive fit”) orforce-locked to the adjacent ends of the longitudinal strips.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device accordingto the invention, said connecting pieces are in one piece with saidlongitudinal strips.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device accordingto the invention, at least said longitudinal strips are made of springband material, preferably steel.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device accordingto the invention, said connecting device comprises clamping members,which engage round longitudinal sides of said longitudinal strips thatface away from each other. In particular, said connecting device andsaid clamping members are made in one piece.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for manufacturing awindscreen wiper device according to the invention, wherein opposinglongitudinal grooves are formed in the longitudinal sides of anelongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed inabutment with a windscreen to be wiped, in which grooves longitudinalstrips of a carrier element are subsequently fitted in spaced-apartrelationship, wherein neighbouring ends of said longitudinal strips areinterconnected by a respective connecting piece, wherein an oscillatingarm is pivotally connected to a connecting device of the windscreenwiper device about a pivot axis near one end thereof, characterized inthat the end of the oscillating wiper arm is fitted with two at leastsubstantially cylindrical protrusions, which form bearing surfaces, atthe location of the pivot axis, which protrusions extend in lateraldirection with respect to the oscillating wiper arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference tofigures illustrated in a drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, schematic view of a preferred embodiment of awindscreen wiper device according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show details of the windscreen wiper device of FIG. 1,wherein various successive steps for fitting an oscillating wiper arm toa connecting device of the windscreen wiper device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a preferred variant of a windscreen wiper device 1according to the invention. Said windscreen wiper device is built up ofan elastomeric wiper blade 2, in the longitudinal sides of whichopposing longitudinal grooves 3 are formed, and of longitudinal strips 4made of spring band steel, which are fitted in said longitudinal grooves3. Said strips 4 form a flexible carrier element for the rubber wiperblade 2, as it were, which is thus biassed in a curved position (thecurvature in operative position being that of a windscreen to be wiped).Neighbouring ends 5 of strips 4 are interconnected on either side of thewindscreen wiper device 1 by means of connecting pieces 6 functioning asclamping members. In this embodiment, the connecting pieces 6 areseparate constructional elements, which may be form-locked (“positivelocking” or “having positive fit”) as well as force-locked to the ends 5of strips 4. In another preferred variant, said connecting pieces 6 arein one piece with the strips 4 made of spring band steel. In the lattercase said connecting pieces form transverse bridges for the strips 4, asit were.

The windscreen wiper device 1 is furthermore built up of a connectingdevice 7 of plastic material for an oscillating wiper arm 8. Connectingdevice 7 comprises clamping members 9 that are integral therewith, whichengage round longitudinal sides 10 of the strips 4 that face away fromeach other, as a result of which the connecting device 7 is firmlyattached to the unit consisting of wiper blade 2 and strips 4. Theoscillating wiper arm 8 is pivotally connected to the connecting device7 about a pivot axis near one end, and that in the following manner. Theend of oscillating wiper arm 8 includes two at least substantiallycylindrical protrusions 11, which form bearing surfaces, at the locationof the pivot axis. Said protrusions 11 can be readily inserted intocorrespondingly shaped recesses 12 in the connecting device 7 from avertical position of the oscillating wiper arm 8. This can take placefreely from said vertical position, because the width of saidprotrusions 11 is smaller than that of the insertion openings 13 of therecesses 12 in that position: it so happens that both protrusions 11have a flat guide surface 14 (FIG. 2). Then the oscillating wiper arm 8is pivoted through 90 degrees about the pivot axis, from its verticalposition to a horizontal position (FIG. 3). In the horizontal positionof the oscillating wiper arm 8, the width of said protrusions 11 issmaller than the width of the insertion openings 13 of recesses 12, sothat the oscillating wiper arm 8 is locked with respect to theconnecting device 7 in that position (FIG. 3). FIGS. 2 and 3 clearlyshow that the connecting device 7 includes a longitudinal guide grooveor guide slot 15, in which the end of the oscillating wiper arm 8 restsin its horizontal position. In another preferred variant, theprotrusions 11 can be snapped, that is, clipped into said recesses.Possibly, a spoiler 16 is furthermore provided.

In order to prevent the occurrence of wear on protrusions 11, saidprotrusions are preferably each fitted with a joint part or spacer of awear-resistant plastic material, which surrounds said protrusions, sothat the pivoting movement of connecting device 7 and oscillating wiperarm 8 with respect to each other takes place substantially withoutfriction. Such a joint part is not necessarily mounted entirely aroundsaid protrusions: only these parts of said protrusions that during usemake mechanical contact with (parts of) the connecting device 7 aresurrounded by a joint part. When using joint parts said protrusions 11may have an entirely round form (i.e. without a guide surface), seen incross-section. Preferably, the end of the oscillating arm 8 that restsin the guide groove 15 is also surrounded by a joint part or spacer of awear-resistant plactic material.

The invention is not restricted to the variants as shown in the drawing;but it also extends to other embodiments that fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

1. A windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrierelement comprising a pair of resilient longitudinal strips biased in anormally curved condition and each having distal ends, as well as anelongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed inabutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includesopposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in whichgrooves the longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed in aspaced-apart parallel condition, wherein the neighboring ends of saidlongitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting pieceso as to fix the longitudinal strips together as a unit, whichwindscreen wiper device comprises a central connecting device for anoscillating wiper arm directly affixed to each of the longitudinalstrips generally mid-way between their neighboring ends, wherein saidoscillating arm is pivotally connected to said central connecting deviceabout a pivot axis near one end of the oscillating arm, characterized inthat the end of the oscillating wiper arm includes two at leastsubstantially cylindrical protrusions, which form bearing surfaces,centered at the pivot axis, which protrusions extend in lateraldirection with respect to the oscillating wiper arm and are spaceddirectly over each of the longitudinal strips, so that forces exerted onsaid bearing surfaces will be widely distributed through the centralconnecting device and into the longitudinal strips of the carrierelement.
 2. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, whereinsaid protrusions can be pivotally mounted in correspondingly shapedrecesses in the central connecting device.
 3. The windscreen wiperdevice according to claim 2, wherein said protrusions are dimensionedsuch that they can be passed through insertion openings of the recessesfrom an at least substantially perpendicular position of the oscillatingarm with respect to the wiper blade, and be locked in position in saidrecesses from an at least substantially parallel position of theoscillating wiper arm with respect to the wiper blade.
 4. The windscreenwiper device according to claim 3, wherein said central connectingdevice includes a guide groove for the oscillating wiper arm.
 5. Thewindscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said centralconnecting device includes a guide groove for the oscillating wiper arm.6. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 5, wherein saidconnecting pieces are clamping members, which form separateconstructional elements.
 7. The windscreen wiper device according toclaim 5, wherein said connecting pieces are in one piece with saidlongitudinal strips.
 8. The windscreen wiper device according to claim1, wherein said connecting pieces are clamping members, which formseparate constructional elements.
 9. The windscreen wiper deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein said connecting pieces are form-locked orforce-locked to the adjacent ends of said longitudinal strips.
 10. Thewindscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said connectingpieces are in one piece with said longitudinal strips.
 11. Thewindscreen wiper device according to claim 10, wherein at least saidlongitudinal strips are made of spring band material.
 12. The windscreenwiper device according to claim 1, wherein at least said longitudinalstrips are made of spring band material.
 13. The windscreen wiper deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein said connecting device comprises clampingmembers, which engage round longitudinal sides of said longitudinalstrips that face away from each other.
 14. The windscreen wiper deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said connecting device comprises clampingmembers, which engage round longitudinal sides of said longitudinalstrips that face away from each other.
 15. The windscreen wiper deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein said connecting device and said clampingmembers are made in one piece.